Gripping sleeve

ABSTRACT

A novel gripping sleeve and method of using for enhancing a user&#39;s grasp of the handles and handholds of various tools and implements is disclosed. The gripping sleeve is comprised of an elongated flexible hollow cylindrical sleeve with a lengthwise slit, which allows the gripping sleeve to be wrapped around a range of variously sized handles and handholds. The method of gripping handles and handholds of various tools and implements is comprised of the steps of, first, separating the gripping sleeve along its lengthwise slit, second, sliding the handle or handhold of the tool or implement through the gripping sleeve&#39;s lengthwise slit, and, finally, utilizing the gripping sleeve to grip the tool or implement more securely and comfortably.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to the field of gripping sleeves. Inparticular, the present invention is directed to a gripping sleeve, forenhancing a user's grasp of the handles and handholds of various toolsand implements.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There have been a number of patents directed to the area of grippingsleeves. U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,885 discloses a slip-on grip with a mainthin rubber cylindrical tube and an outer fabric layer dimensioned tofit securely over an existing grip. The outer fabric layer haslongitudinal slits along its lower portion of the rubber tube to allowthe tube to expand to slide over the existing golf grip duringinstallation. The outer layer is made of cotton or terry cloth orsimilar material and is integral with the thin rubber tube to provide anon-slip, gripping surface. In a second embodiment, the golf grip has anadditional, thickened interior rubber portion which replaces, instead ofslipping over, the existing grip. The grip has the combined function ofthe existing grip and the grip cover providing a grip wide enough to fitin the palm of an adult's hand.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,098,199 discloses an apparatus for providing an enhancedgrip between a gloved hand and a handle or other object to be gripped. Aportion or all of the glove and a portion or all of the handle areprovided with selected first and second gripping surfaces, respectively,of the same or different materials, that join together, temporarily orpermanently, and provide a stronger hand-to-handle grip that resistsslipping. Alternatively, a flexible band, having second and thirdgripping surfaces on opposite sides, is wrapped around a first objectthat is to be rotated or otherwise moved relative to a second object,such as a lid and a jar. A gloved hand, having a first gripping surface,grips the flexible band and the first object and forms a strongtemporary join between hand, flexible band and first object, allowingthe first object to be more easily moved. Various thermoplastic,amorphous polymers, crystalline polymers and rubber-like materials canbe used for the gripping surfaces. The invention has application toconstruction, maintenance, control and extraction work, to sportsactivities, to repair work around the home and to persons suffering fromarthritis and similar diseases that affect an ability to grip an object.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,560,083 discloses handles to carry luggage that havebeen made of a variety of materials and in a variety of styles. Somerequire specially molded, cast, or stamped parts of plastic, rubber ormetal. But, such handles tend to be expensive and heavy. Here a handleis constructed from a pair of webbing pieces edge stitched to form anelongated tube into which a specially constructed filler member or coreis inserted. This core comprises a central stiffening member of atempered steel wire rod and a plastic tube. Several layers of foampadding are wound around this member, and the entire assembly is slidinto the cavity formed by the edge sewn webbing pieces to form a grip.The lengths of the webbing pieces are such to form integral straps forattaching the grip directly to a luggage case.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,197,611 discloses a hand grip adapted to be slipped overthe metal handles of cooking utensils such as pots and fry pans, havingparticular application to commercial grade utensils wherein the handlesare metal and customarily not provided with a thermally insulatinggripping portion. The hand grip is elongated and made of a resilientsilicone rubber material having low thermal conductivity so as to remaincool to the touch even though the metal handle becomes quite hot.Extending nearly completely through the grip is a longitudinal openinghaving a plurality of axial ribs within the opening, which define axialpassageways for the flow of air between the metal handle and gripthereby enhancing the insulating qualities of the grip in somecircumstances. If desired, the opening may be flat and unobstructed. Thegrip has suitable durometer and frictional characteristics to remain inplace on the metal handle during use.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,261,078 discloses a handle that includes an elongatedgrip constructed of a compliant material such as a molded foam rubber orplastic and has a pair of longitudinally extending parallel grooves onan upper surface, one adjacent each of the grip sides. The grip ismolded about an elongated rigid member which serves to reinforce thegrip throughout its entire length. A half-shell metal frame generallyU-shaped in cross-section, has side edges received in the grooves of thegrip and otherwise fits about the grip covering the top and part of thelateral sides. Mounting stanchions are provided one for each end of thehandle assembly and are affixed to the top surface of a luggage case,beauty case, or the like. Each stanchion includes a stub shaft which ispivotally received through an opening in an end portion of thehalf-shell frame and reinforcing member.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,241 discloses a handle for a paint roller frameincludes an inner core made of a substantially rigid plastic materialand an outer grip made of a softer rubber-like material surrounding theinner core and extending part way around both ends thereof. At the outerend of the inner core is an internally threaded opening surrounded by aplanar end wall. The outer grip includes an outer end portion overlyingthe planar end wall which acts like a locking washer, resistingunscrewing of an extension pole from the threaded opening when theextension pole is screwed down tight and a flange at a base of theextension pole threads comes into contact with the outer end portion ofthe outer grip overlying the planar end wall.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,730,662 discloses a grip for an apparatus having a shaftthat comprises an elongate hollow sleeve adapted to be slidably insertedon to the shaft and is shrinkable upon the application of heat at apreselected temperature range so that the sleeve contracts andsurroundingly attaches to the shaft. A tubular member is adapted to beslidably inserted over the sleeve such that the sleeve and the tubularmember together form an easily attachable grip. In a further aspect ofthe invention the sleeve and/or the tubular member are provided with anadhesive. The adhesive may take the form of a two part curable adhesivesuch as an epoxy. One of the parts is applied to the outer surface ofthe sleeve and the other part is applied to the interior surface to thetubular member such that the parts mix upon sliding of the grip sectionsupon one another. In another embodiment of the invention, the two partadhesive is applied to either the exterior of the sleeve or the interiorof the tubular member. One of the parts is encapsulated withinrupture-able microcapsules such that when the respective grip sectionsslide over one another, the microcapsules rupture, resulting in mixingof the epoxy components and the formation of an integral grip uponcuring of the epoxy.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,797,813 discloses a shock absorbing grip for a golf clubhaving a strip formed of a polyurethane layer bonded to a felt layer.The strip is spirally wrapped about the golf club handle with the sideedges being formed with recessed reinforcement side edges which areoverlapping to form a water retarding joint between the side edges ofthe strip. The felt layer may be formed with an upwardly extendingcentral groove along its length to form a spiral depression when thestrip is spirally wrapped about a handle.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,036,607 discloses a grip for an elongated shaft,especially a golf club, having a main portion with an inner surface, anouter surface opposite to said inner surface, an upper end, a lower endopposite said upper end, a first side, and a second side opposite saidfirst side. Each of the inner and outer surfaces extend between thefirst and second ends and between the first and second sides. The mainportion has a thickness extending between the inner and outer surfacesthat gradually tapers in a first direction from a thickened areaadjacent the upper end to a thinner area adjacent the lower end. A firstfastener is coupled to the inner surface and a second fastener iscoupled to the outer surface. The main portion is movable between anopen position wherein the first and second fasteners are spaced fromeach other and a closed position wherein the first and second fastenersare releasably attached. The main portion forms a hollow, substantiallytubular member open at both the upper end and the lower end when themain portion is in the closed position. The grip is preferably used onan elongated shaft such as a golf club, and is preferably used incombination with an existing, permanent grip.

U.S. Pat. No. D466,574 discloses a new ornamental design for a tubulargrip for a bat, as shown and described.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,652,398 discloses a vibration dampening grip cover forthe handle of an implement that is preferably of multilayer laminateform having an inner vibration dampening layer and an outer grippinglayer. A further inner force dissipating stiffening layer is included inthe laminate. In a variation of the invention a grip cover is in theform of a sleeve which fits over the end of an implement handle. Thesleeve terminates in a peripherally outward knob. The sleeve may be of asingle layer made from vibration dampening material or may be amultilayer laminate.

U.S. Patent Application No. 20030151269 discloses a system to reboundshock as well as hand and wrist fatigue associated with the use of alarge wrench, is alleviated by a covering at least the butt end of thewrench with a sleeve, or gripping device, constructed from an pliant anddeformable material, such as soft rubber. The gripping device may beprovided for attachment to the elongated handle of a tool. It includes asleeve dimensioned to encircle the tool handle along three sides and toextend along a substantial length of the handle.

The gripping device may be mounted on the tool by means of an internalrib or ribs which lock the tool within the device channel cavity. Inanother embodiment, the device may include a series of finger sizeundulation along the outer surface to improve the ability of a person tomaintain a grip. Because of its configuration and pliant material, thegripping device readily absorbs the impact forces due to torque appliedduring operation of the wrench that would otherwise be transmittedthrough the handle, and thereby provides ergonomic shock protection forthe craftsperson's hand. The invention provides security and comfort forthe user.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel grippingdevice for holding a handle such as a paint can.

It is another object of the invention to provide a gripping handle whichcan be easily placed and removed from a can.

These and other objects of the present invention will become clear fromthe following detailed description.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a gripping sleeve for enhancing a user's graspof the handles and handholds of various tools and implements comprising:an elongated flexible hollow cylindrical sleeve having a first end,second end, interior wall surface, and exterior wall surface; and alengthwise slit from said first end to said second end, penetratingthrough said exterior wall surface to said interior wall surface.

In a further embodiment, a method of using a gripping sleeve to enhancea user's grasp of the handles and handholds of various tools andimplements comprising the step of: separating the gripping sleeve alongits lengthwise slit; feeding the handle or handhold of the tool orimplement through the gripping sleeve's lengthwise slit; and utilizingthe gripping sleeve to grip the tool or implement more securely andcomfortably.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the present handle affixed to a can.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer tothe same components across several views, and in particular to FIG. 1,there is shown a gripping sleeve 10 for enhancing a user's grip of thehandles and handholds of tools and other implements. The invention canbe constructed from neoprene, santoprine or other oil resistant,chemical resistant, flexible and easy to apply material. The grippingsleeve 10 is comprised of an elongated flexible hollow member 12. In apreferred embodiment, said elongated flexible hollow member 12 would bea cylindrical sleeve. In alternate embodiments, said elongated flexiblehollow member 12 could be formed into a square, triangular, or polygonalprofile.

The elongated flexible hollow member 12 includes a first end 13, secondend 14, internal wall surface 16, and external wall surface 17. Theelongated flexible hollow member 12 further includes a lengthwise slit15 extending from the first end 13 to the second end 14. The lengthwiseslit 15 perforates the elongated flexible hollow member 12 from itsfirst end 13 to its second end 14, splitting the gripping sleeve open,so a user dividing the lengthwise slit 15 with their hand can expose theelongated flexible hollow member's 12 hollow interior. In a preparedembodiment the slit 15 is offset by about <5 degrees 20. This offsetprevents the sleeve 10 from pulling off when it is applied to the canhandle.

A preferred method of using a gripping sleeve 10 will now be disclosed.The preferred method of using a gripping sleeve 10 to enhancing a user'sgrip on the handles and handholds of tools and other implements iscomprised of the steps, including, first, splitting the gripping sleeve10 along its lengthwise slit 15, second, feeding the handle or handholdof the tool or implement through the gripping sleeve's 10 lengthwiseslit 15, and, finally, utilizing the gripping sleeve 10 to grip a toolor implement more securely and comfortably.

The present invention is in no way restricted to a particular size orgeometric configuration.

The present invention has been described with reference to the abovedescribed preferred embodiment. It is to be appreciated that otherembodiments fulfill the spirit and scope of the present invention andthat the true nature and scope of the present invention will bedetermined with reference to the claims attached hereto.

1. A gripping sleeve for enhancing a user's grasp of the handles andhandholds of various tools and implements comprising: an elongatedflexible hollow cylindrical sleeve having a first end, second end,interior wall surface, and exterior wall surface; and a lengthwise slitfrom said first end to said second end, penetrating through saidexterior wall surface to said interior wall surface.
 2. The grippingsleeve of claim 1 where the slit is offset by about 5 degrees.
 3. Amethod of using a gripping sleeve to enhance a user's grasp of thehandles and handholds of various tools and implements comprising thestep of: separating the gripping sleeve along its lengthwise slit;feeding the handle or handhold of the tool or implement through thegripping sleeve's lengthwise slit; and utilizing the gripping sleeve togrip the tool or implement more securely and comfortably.